40 Across
NYT Daily • September 10, 2025
Remark to the audience
Answer:
ASIDE
Hint:
["This theatrical device lets a character share a secret thought directly with you, often while others on stage remain unaware."]
Explanation:
In theater, an "aside" is when an actor briefly speaks directly to the audience, sharing a thought or comment that other characters on stage aren’t supposed to hear. The clue plays on this definition by calling it a "remark to the audience," which is exactly what an aside does—it breaks the fourth wall for a quick, often revealing line. The answer fits because it’s the theatrical term for that kind of direct address.